MIC-Cold Iron weapons

[Twowolves]

So, am I missing something here? On p284 of the DMG, it says that cold iron weapons cost twice as much to make, and if you make them magical, it costs a flat +2000gp. Thus a cold iron longsword costs 30gp (2x15gp), a masterwork cold iron longsword costs 330 gp (2x15gp, +300gp for masterwork) and a +1 cold iron longsword costs 4330gp (2x15gp, +300gp MW, +2000gp for enhancement +1, +2000gp "cold iron penalty").

However, on page 27 of the new Magic Item Compendium, it lists a +2000gp "cost modifier" to ANY cold iron weapon, and further states that "magical enhancements x2 cost"! Furthermore, in the text immediately above this table, it refers to the DMG p283, the very same section that outlines the costs cited above. The Masterwork cold iron longsword specific item shows up on the random item by item level (2nd level item, page 270), but not in the list of magic items by price. I also don't see any mention of cold iron in the section on making magic items in the MIC. Furthermore, the Magebane property (p38) states it can be added to a cold iron weapon without the added 2000gp price, implying the cold iron rules from the DMG.

So which is it? Did WotC intend to make enhancing cold iron weapons cost double plus 2000gp, or just plus 2000gp? Anyone have any insight, or even just a good educated guess?

 

[Nightfall]

TW,

I'd go with the former unless you think it's that prohibitively expensive.

 

[Laman Stahros]

Standard rule, text over table. Refer to the DMG for all relavent cold iron rules.

 

[JustKim]

There's no way to justify doubling the enhancement cost of cold iron. It costs nearly as much as adamantine already, but it's only good for bypassing some DR while adamantine is pretty darn good. I don't think I've ever actually had anyone buy a cold iron weapon, that's how little use they are. For the most part, 5th level adventurers don't go weapon shopping with a fear of pixies in their hearts.

 

[Nightfall]

Kim,

Your PCs obviously never had to fight Shadow Fey from Ravenloft.

 

[Bagpuss]

The first paragraph (DMG) is correct; the second paragraph (Magic Item Compendium) is just crazy talk.

 

[Nightfall]

Bag,

I concur. Craziness was involved when they made the magic item compendium.

 

[Bagpuss]

Actually I kind of liked the idea of a magic item compendium, especially when the preview articles that had a number of magic items that were reasonably priced and the designer & development talk of the "Big Six".

But obviously this sort of pricing for Cold Iron is far from reasonable.

 

[Capellan]

Sounds to me like they accidentally swapped the costs around in the Magic Item Compendium.

DMG: Double cost of base weapon, +2000 gp to enchant
MIC: Double cost of enchantment, +2000 gp base cost

I'd just chalk it up as an error and ignore it.

 

[frankthedm]

Sounds to me like they accidentally swapped the costs around in the Magic Item Compendium.

DMG: Double cost of base weapon, +2000 gp to enchant
MIC: Double cost of enchantment, +2000 gp base cost

I'd just chalk it up as an error and ignore it.

Yep